Realwomen of BC - Archives - March2008 - Fighting for their father’s life

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THE REAL NEWS The R.E.A.L WOMEN of BC Newsletter March 2008, P.O. Box 39068, Point Grey RPO, Vancouver, BC V6R 4P1, Tel/Fax: 604- 463-1611, website: http://www.realwomen.bc.ca
Fighting for their father’s life (Info from Miriam Geller, daughter of Mr. Golubchuk) Sam Golubchuk is an elderly, disabled World War II veteran living in Winnipeg. Last fall Mr. Golubchuk, who has been living in a long-term care facility, contracted pneumonia and was moved to a hospital. Although he recuperated from the pneumonia, his condition was weakened and he could not return to his home. He was receiving basic care at the hospital such as food and water and assistance in breathing through the use of a ventilator. According to his daughter, Sam. Golubchuk was not on medication or in pain just old and weak. He was not in a “vegetative” state, nor was he suffering from a terminal illness of any kind. In November the family of Mr. Golubchuk was shocked to hear that the hospital had attempted to withdraw the basic care to let him die. The family obtained an emergency Court Order to stop the hospital from ending the care provided to the old man. The hospital appealed but the injunction was upheld and Grace General Hospital in Winnipeg is not allowed to remove the respirator, dehydrate or starve Samuel Golubchuk. The judge concluded that it was not settled in law that the doctor has the final say and as the hospital has no means to mediate the dispute, the case is now going to trial. At the beginning of February, the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Manitoba issued a Statement which gives the physicians the sole power to end Life Sustaining Treatment, even when a person may regain consciousness and the family/proxy/representative opposed the decision of the physician. The doctors need to consult the patient or family but the decision to take someone off the life support is ultimately up to the doctors. The family must receive a four-day notice though of the doctors’ decision to end treatment. The concern, of course, is that this will lead to cases such as Terri Schiavo whose death was caused by intentionally withholding food and fluids. However, there is also the question as to how far we go with heroic measures to keep someone alive through artificial means. Doctors at the hospital claim the Mr. Golubchuk has minimal brain function and that his full recovery is minimal. For those who want to financially assist Mr. Golubchuk’s family with the legal cost of the trial can send a donation to: Save Sam Golubchuk Fund c/o Canadian Centre for Policy Studies P.O. Box 1318 Station B Ottawa ON K1P 5R4